Stocks Mixed In Afternoon; 3D, Stratasys Hit Again

The stock market turned mixed Wednesday afternoon after the Federal Reserve released minutes from its meeting last month.

The Nasdaq was up 0.1%. But the Dow Jones industrial average and the S&P 500 erased early gains and were down 0.2% and 0.1%, respectively. Volume was tracking lower across the board.

Minutes from the Fed's Oct. 29-30 meeting showed that policymakers puzzled over how to communicate plans to reduce stimulus while pledging to keep interest rates low.

Three-dimensional printer makers were having another rough day. Stratasys (SSYS) plummeted 7% in more than double its average daily volume. The stock has fallen 10% this week but was getting support at its 10-week moving average.

Also, 3D Systems (DDD) dropped 8% in massive trade. It's down 14% for the week after a powerful five-week run-up. The stock remains well above its 10-week line.

On the upside, nutritional supplements marketer Herbalife (HLF) paced the IBD 50 with a 7% gain. It retook its 50-day line.

Humana (HUM) broke out of a cup-without-handle base. Shares jumped 2%, clearing the 99.95 buy point in ample volume. It was a record high for the HMO, despite new uncertainties in the industry about ObamaCare.

Humana's earnings fell 4% in the third quarter, after EPS gains of 84% and 26% the previous two quarters. Revenue growth has been in single digits but accelerating in growth the past couple of quarters.

The stock market turned mixed Wednesday afternoon after the Federal Reserve released minutes from its meeting last month.

The Nasdaq was up 0.1%. But the Dow Jones industrial average and the S&P 500 erased early gains and were down 0.2% and 0.1%, respectively. Volume was tracking lower across the board.

Minutes from the Fed's Oct. 29-30 meeting showed that policymakers puzzled over how to communicate plans to reduce stimulus while pledging to keep interest rates low.

Three-dimensional printer makers were having another rough day. Stratasys (SSYS) plummeted 7% in more than double its average daily volume. The stock has fallen 10% this week but was getting support at its 10-week moving average.

Also, 3D Systems (DDD) dropped 8% in massive trade. It's down 14% for the week after a powerful five-week run-up. The stock remains well above its 10-week line.

On the upside, nutritional supplements marketer Herbalife (HLF) paced the IBD 50 with a 7% gain. It retook its 50-day line.

Humana (HUM) broke out of a cup-without-handle base. Shares jumped 2%, clearing the 99.95 buy point in ample volume. It was a record high for the HMO, despite new uncertainties in the industry about ObamaCare.

Humana's earnings fell 4% in the third quarter, after EPS gains of 84% and 26% the previous two quarters. Revenue growth has been in single digits but accelerating in growth the past couple of quarters.

See Also

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03/02/2015 04:22 PM ET

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